Self-propelling invalid-chair.



JAKoB CZECHOWICZ, or TERRE HAUTE, INDIANA.

SELF-PROPELLING INVALID-CHAIR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 18, 1919.

Application filed July 15, 1918. Serial No. 244,997.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J AKB Cznonowroz ,a subject of the Emperor of Austria, resldmg at Terre Haute, in the county of Vigo and.

State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Self-Propelling Invalid-Chairs, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to invalid chairs andmore particularly to a self-propelled invalidchair, the object thereofbeing to provide a wheeled chair having a propelling device adapted to be wound and then released and controlled, for propelling the chair, suitable steering means being provided for controlling the direction of travel of the chair. I WVith the above and other objects View as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts which will be more fully described herein and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

Reference is had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in which like reference characters indicate the corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings and wherein,

Figure l is a side elevation of my im- H proved self-propelled invalid chair,

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof partly broken away, and

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the opposite side from that shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my improved chair is shown as comprising a bottom frame 10 preferably of rectangular formation and upon which is supported in spaced relation, a frame 11 carrying a seat portion 12 having side arms 13 and a back 14 which may be provided in connection with the seat, with the usual cushions 15. At the front, the seat is provided with an inclined foot rest 16 so as to add to the comfort of the invalid.

The bottom or supporting frame 10 projects rearwardly of the seat frame so as to pivotally support a steering wheel 17, said wheel having the usual fork and steering p ost 18, which post is also turnable in a bearing 19 supported above the rear portion of the bottom or supporting frame through the medium of two transversely spaced longitudinal braces 20. At its upper end, the steering post is provided with an arm 21 having connection through an angular rod 22 with a rack bar 23 arranged horizontally atone side of the chair and adapted to be shifted. by rotation of a pinion 24, the crank handle '25 of which is journaled in a bearing 26 suspended from the adjacent arm of the chair. The rod 22 is designed to slide in a guldeway 27 arranged at one side of the seat frame and also in a hanger 28 suspended from said arm, so as to accommodate the rear portion of the rack bar 23. Thus it will be seen, that by turning the crank handle 25, the rack bar can be shifted longitudinally so as to swing the arm 21 and thereby turn the steering wheel on its pivot for directing the chair in the desired course.

At the forward portion of the chair, are provided transporting and driving wheels 29 adapted to cooperate with the steering and transporting wheel 17, said wheels being suitably jou-rnaledon the bottom frame 10 and carrying sprocket wheels or pulleys 30. At the rear portion of the frame is arranged a spring motor 31 having a winding shaft 32 extending laterally to one side of the chair, namely-ythe "opposite side from that to which the steering means is applied. At the outer end of the shaft 32 there is provided a pinion 33 meshing with a pinion 34 fixed to the lower end of an inclined shaft 35 journaled in the side frame portions. The upper end of the shaft carries a bevel gear or pinion 36 designed to be rotated for rotating the shaft 35 through the instrumentality of a larger bevel gear or pinion 37 journaled inthe arm opposite to that carrying the steering means and designed to be rotated through the medium of a crank handle 38 for winding the motor.

The motor is provided with a transverse drive shaft 39 journaled in the bottom frame, the outer end thereof carrying sprocket wheels or pulleys 40, around which end sprocket wheels or pulleys 30 are arranged endless drive belts or chains 11, so that when the shaft is driven through the operation of the motor, the front wheels will be rotated in the desired direction for moving the chair forwardly. Suitable means may be provided for reversing the direction of the motor and the shaft 32 is provided with a brake 42 similar to the brakes provided upon the rear ,Wheels, of.

bicycles, so that upon turning the gear wheel 37 backwardly, the brake wi l: be appl ed to stop the vehicle; Also, by holding the handles 33 stationary, the device can coast, it being unnecessary to employ the motor.

From the foregoing description taken in.

connection with the accompanying drawings, it is thought that aclear and compreback arranged upon the seat, a foot rest at the forward portion of; the seat, said bottom frame. projecting rearwardly of the seatjframe, armsfor the seat frame, a steering wheelcarried by the rearwardly. projecting; portion of the bottom frame, operating means carried by the frame for turning the steering wheel, a motor carried by the, bottom frame, means for winding said motor, transporting, wheels ,at the forward Copies 01'. this ,patent maybeobtained for portion of the, frame, and ;drive, connections between the motor andthe transporting 35 2 A self pro-pelledinvalid chair, comprisinga bottom frame, a seat frame, a back arranged upon the seat, a foot rest at the forward portion of the seat, said bottom frame projecting rearwardly of the seat 4 frame,.armsz;fon the seat frame, a steering wheel carried by the rearward'ly projecting portion of the bottom frame, -a ibearingrsupr ported in spaced =rel'ationi above the bottom frameftoareoeive the steering post. ofrthe steering wheel, angarm Lon Qsaid plost, a, rack bar slida'bly carriedby: one arm, means fol; shifting the; rapolc bar and including a-crank; handle having a pinion, gan angular rod connection between the rack bar andrthe arm, spaced longitudinal-brace barsycarried by the bottom, frame, a springimot-or carried bysaid brace bars, a iwindingshaftfor said motor, operating mean-sarranged.upon the other arm having geared connection With 55 said ;windingshaftfor rotatig the latterito wind vthe .motor, a brake associated ,with the m-oator,- transp ti gWhee s;j mr aled att e forward portion of the bottom frameuand drive connections; -between said transport- 60 ing wh ls and the. drive sh t fi he 1.1012 In testimony whereof, I; affix; my signature; 11eret0..,,

JAKOB iozEoHowIoa five cents each, by addressing tl e ,fcoin nissioner ofl -2atents, Washington-,, D..G. 

